England’s Land Use Framework Finally Published

Oakbank Team
6 hours ago
4 min read

The UK Government has published England’s Land Use Framework, aiming to balance multiple, competing demands on our finite land resources, support smarter land use decisions and accelerate environmental improvements by providing a "single, shared vision" and better data for planners, farmers and communities. It comes after years of calls for such a joined-up approach, notably from Henry Dimbleby, who in his 2021 National Food Strategy recommended a rural land use framework (the government promised to deliver it in 2023), and from the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission (FFCC), which urged a land use framework in 2019 and has worked on proposals and pilots ever since. Now that the Framework is finally here, is it worth all the hype and anticipation?

Key Ambitions of England’s Land Use Framework

The Framework has three sections:

a vision for England’s future landscapes, informed by land use change analysis
a set of principles to inform how decisions are made about land
actions the Government will take to support land use change, in partnership with others

According to the official announcement, the Framework is a not a mandate, but guidance with principles, data analysis and policy commitments. It emphasises land serving multiple purposes (multifunctionality) wherever possible, minimising trade-offs between goals like food production, housing, climate mitigation and nature recovery.

In summary, England’s Land Use Framework sets out how the country will:

Maintain overall food production and protect the most productive farmland from inappropriate development
Introduce new and targeted funding to support land use changes (such as habitat creation or diversification)
Make land use decisions "digital first", including simplifying data submissions and publishing advanced tools and maps
Streamline spatial planning and better align local and national priorities
Introduce new and targeted funding to support land use changes (such as habitat creation or diversification)
Ensure enough land is available to meet targets in the Environmental Improvement Plan (e.g. “30by30” criteria) and Carbon Budget Growth and Delivery Plan
Transition some financial incentives (such as farm payments or grants) to focus on where they will deliver the greatest environmental and carbon benefit

The Framework consistently emphasises working with the unique characteristics of each place, i.e. "playing to the strengths of our diverse landscapes," rather than imposing uniform rules. It promotes collaboration across sectors and government levels, suggesting that integrated thinking is crucial to manage land in ways that deliver multiple benefits at once (for example, a single piece of land might provide wildlife habitat, carbon storage, flood protection and recreational space while co-existing with productive farming). The Framework itself does not change laws or regulations; instead, it is a policy guide meant to influence and improve decision-making across different domains of land use policy in England (including planning, agriculture, environment and local government).

Land use change envisaged

The Framework outlines the estimated type and extent of land use change needed as a percentage of England’s total area to 2030 and 2050:

Category A is not considered land use change, so is not included in the above graph or quantified in the Framework. However, it is an anticipated change in how land is farmed without introducing new habitats or planting trees e.g. through introduction of cover crops to improve input efficiency and soil health or reducing fertiliser use to prevent water pollution.
Category B (480,000ha or 4% of England) land remains primarily for food production but includes some land use change for environmental or climate benefits. For example, arable field margins, agroforestry, restoration of species-rich grassland habitats and responsible management of peat.
Category C (788,000ha or 6% of England) land is primarily for delivering environmental and climate benefits, though small amounts of food continue to be produced on some. This will include restoration and maintenance of peat-forming and peat-dependent habitats, woodland creation and creation and restoration of lowland heathland habitats.
Category D land is renewables.
Category E land is urban expansion.

Implementation and next steps

The publication of the Framework is just the first step. The government outlines several next steps and governance measures to ensure the Framework leads to tangible action:

Establishment of a Land Use Unit - to drive delivery of the Framework and produce England’s first single map of national spatial priorities for Defra.
Ongoing updates and monitoring - the framework will be updated every five years as new data becomes available and as policies evolve. The government commits to publishing updated land use data analyses on an ongoing basis.
Partnership approach - with emphasis on collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders including farmers, landowners, local authorities, industry, environmental groups, technology experts and academics. By involving everyone, the government aims to ensure that the Framework’s guidance is practical on the ground and that the tools developed (like digital maps and databases) meet users' needs.

In conclusion, the new Land Use Framework provides some structure for more holistic land management in England, with an emphasis on data-driven planning and cooperation. It's ambition is to stop fragmented decision-making that leads to inefficient land use and leaves us exposed in the short term and vulnerable to climate change. The true impact of this Framework will unfold in the coming years through its implementation.

Apparently, around 32% of England’s land has the ecological potential to meet the “30by30” criteria (protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030), and only 7% is currently meeting the criteria. Tree planting and peatland restoration rates are significantly off track. And with farm incomes dropping sharply, last week’s Farm Business Survey results are not a happy read. We really need to crack on with the right vision!

👉 Read the full Land Use Framework document here